Performance date –  17 January 2014 (First Preview)

For those viewers unfamiliar to the poignant story of Robert Kincaid and Francesca Johnson; director Bartlett Sher and Co. have an emotionally moving wallop of a Musical in store for you with the stage adaptation of Robert James Walker’s book, The Bridges of Madison County, currently in previews at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. The beautifully simplistic scenic design by Michael Yeargan drops us in the midst of a small town Iowa farm while the craftsmanship of lighting designer, Donald Holder,  literally paints the backdrop with perfectly nuanced lighting effects to add their assistance to the story-telling of this wondrous moment in the lives of the two lead characters played artfully (and sung masterfully) by the powerful, masculine baritone Steven Pasquale and one of Broadway’s best and well-loved “legit” sopranos, Kelly O’Hara.

A huge part of the success of this almost “chamber operatic” piece of musical theatre is the work of composer/lyricist, Jason Robert Brown who has taken some familiar aspects of different cultural sounds and woven them cleverly and melodically into his re-telling of this story of an Italian and an American who find themselves “Falling Into…” each other at a momentous intersection of their two lives. The classical/baroque strings and piano are complimentary of Francesca’s Italian roots and Robert has a more cavalier/contemporary sound that reflects his background. The meeting of these two very specific styles is truly one piece of the musical puzzle that Mr. Brown is putting together right in front of the audience, and one that keeps the story captivating and helps move the action of the story along. One of the most interesting aspects of this wonderful score, one that kept playing in this patron’ sub-consciousness, was that at times this score doesn’t necessarily sound puritanically JRB, but had hints of an atonal approach similar to, shall we say, Adam Guettel? (although perhaps it is simply hard to separate Miss O’Hara from the score of The Light in the Piazza)

As is often found at the viewing of a “First Preview,” there are a few speed-bumps that should be taken care of in the next few weeks before opening. Mainly, the often un-important ancillary “extras” that seem to  lurk around the stage from time to time are slightly distracting as well as deliver to us a few songs that simply have no business in the show (sorry, Hunter Foster, although you are a fantastic Musical Theatre Singer/Actor we just don’t care about your characters’ “Something from a Dream” nor do we need Cass Morgan’s rendition of “Get Closer” to keep us compelled to pay attention). Not to mention that very unfortunate, “was that tap?” bit that takes place in the opening of Act II… Cut.

Unpleasantries aside, the powerful work of both of the leading actors is worth the ticket price alone. These two are running full steam ahead at the TOP of their game. Their chemistry is truly wonderful to behold and the kind of magic that producers all over “The Great White Way” keep trying to find… Look No Further… It is HERE. A multitude of congratulations to these artists!

Listen to “Falling Into You” from The Bridges of Madison County… Click HERE

For more information… Click HERE

The Bridges of Madison County